Defense was a hit

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Photo: Andy Lyons, Getty Images

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 18-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) less

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. ... more

Photo: Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Defense was a hit

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The performance of the 49ers' defense against the high-powered Colts drew rave reviews both for its design and its execution. The offensive strategy, though, came under question, partly because it succeeded so well during one particular stretch.

Aside from Frank Gore's 64-yard touchdown run, the ground game that is the fundamental part of the 49ers' approach was thoroughly thwarted. Excluding that play, the 49ers gained 2.9 yards per rush in an 18-14 loss in Indianapolis.

During a two-minute drill at the end of the first half, the 49ers went to a shotgun formation with three wide receivers. It took San Francisco seven plays, six of them completed passes from Alex Smithto four different receivers, to drive 89 yards. The drive, which ended when tight end Vernon Daviscaught an 8-yard touchdown pass, took just more than a minute.

Coach Mike Singletary was asked several times Monday if it's possible that he and offensive coordinator Jimmy Rayewill open up the playbook, especially now that Smith looks more confident than ever and rookie Michael Crabtreegives him an inviting new target. Singletary's answer, essentially, is: Don't hold your breath.

"When you are dealing with a quarterback making the first start of the season, when you are dealing with a wideout that is going to be a great wideout at some point in time (but) that every now and then has a mishap here and there, when you are dealing with an offensive line still trying to gain continuity, when you are dealing with a new coordinator - we are still coming together," Singletary said.

For all but the first play on the drive, Smith was in the shotgun, a formation in which he had played almost exclusively at Utah. He seemed utterly comfortable running it again. More to the point, the passing game was working when the running game wasn't.

According to Singletary, it's too easy for media and fans to say, "Just go ahead and put (Smith) in the spread and let him go." He added: "It's not as simple as that."

The 49ers were stymied by their execution problems and not by an overly conservative game plan, he contended. "Yesterday was a classic case of an immature team shooting themselves in the foot," he said.

He said he supported Raye "150 percent," but also said he and the coordinator are still figuring out which pass routes Smith handles best. They want "to make sure that this time around we ... do everything that we can to put Alex in the best situation to be successful," he said.

"We are excited about what we are seeing, but at the same time, don't want to lose our minds."

Smith and Crabtree are still learning how to play together, a point that was made clear in the first quarter when a Smith pass that was a little too high glanced off Crabtree's hand and was intercepted by Bob Sanders.

"It's kind of a bam-bam play," Smith said. "We were a little off."

The same play later worked for a 27-yard gain to open the successful two-minute drill.

Smith emphasized that any offense needs balance, and he wasn't lobbying for more passes or spread formations. "You have to be able to do it all: run and pass," he said. "You have to be able to mix it up."

Hold that pose: Wide receiver Josh Morganwasn't the only player pretending to take pictures of Davis as part of the tight end's touchdown celebration. Morgan was the one whose knee hit the ground while he was doing it. That's a no-no, according to the latest NFL strictures on celebrations.

Singletary said he didn't see the violation when it occurred, but he didn't like it, especially when the 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff helped the Colts to a field goal just before halftime.

"That's just not very smart," Singletary said. "So that's on us; that's on me. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't see it. I probably would have overreacted or something."

Radio head: Linebacker Patrick Willisno longer wears the green-dot radio helmet. Instead, the defensive signals were relayed to safety Dashon Goldson. Singletary said the switch "freed up (Willis) a bit" and Goldson handled the task well.

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